IUFoST's strategy to strengthen food security in rural areas of developing countries

One sixth of the world's population is food insecure with many of these people living in Sub-Saharan Africa. Food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition have multiple reasons, many of which are beyond the reach and capacity of the food science community to remediate. Knowledge of food science and technology can dramatically improve the situation wherever food insecurity exists. This knowledge can increase our understanding of the conditions under which agricultural produce has to be handled, processed and distributed after harvesting. To develop practical measures, the Food Security Task Force of the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) is developing a strategy to expand and broaden the Food Science/Technology knowledge base in neglected geographical areas. Specifically, IUFoST is offering Food Science/Technology training material for non-academic food industry entrepreneurs utilising distance education technology. Part of IUFoST's effort is the transfer of appropriate technologies for pilot-scale processes which foster linkages between farmers and food industries and stimulate growing high value crops.